The Hidden Globe

by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian
The Hidden Globe cover
Good Books rating 3.92
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Paperback • £10.99 Hardback • £22.00
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  • ID: 2988
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
guardianbookshop.com · Unknown · 2025-02-20
intriguing 3.75

The Hidden Globe by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian explores the intricate world of tax havens and offshore finance, revealing how wealth shapes global systems. While praised for its luminous reportage and sharp observations, some critics find the book's focus meandering and its conclusions incomplete.

The Hidden Globe delves into the shadowy world of tax havens, special economic zones, and offshore finance, illustrating how wealth and power manipulate global systems. The book is lauded for its thorough research and engaging narrative, offering a vivid portrayal of how a few economists and consultants have influenced international operations. However, some reviewers note that the book's interviews and anecdotes can be meandering, diverting attention from the core focus on these unusual jurisdictions. The conclusion, while providing a sense of solace, leaves unanswered questions about addressing the broader implications of these financial practices. Overall, the book is a compelling exploration of how privilege protects itself, but it could benefit from a more focused narrative and deeper analysis of its subject matter.

Quick quotes

    A season of unrest looms ahead, and The Hidden Globe lays out the unvarnished truth in a luminous feat of reportage.

    Abrahamian’s interviews with the people — the vast majority of them men — who helped develop and run these special economic zones provide a window into how just a few economists and consultants could change the way countries around the world operate.

    Sharply observed descent into the labyrinth of finance and semantics with which nations and the superrich secure their wealth.

nytimes.com · Unknown · 2024-11-26
intriguing 4.00

The Hidden Globe by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian explores the rise of extraterritorial domains where wealthy entities operate under different rules, highlighting the global spread of these zones and their impact on economies and governance. The book delves into the origins and evolution of these spaces, revealing how they benefit the privileged while often leaving others behind.

Atossa Araxia Abrahamian's The Hidden Globe examines the proliferation of special economic zones, freeports, and other extraterritorial domains where wealthier entities enjoy unique advantages. These zones, which have their roots in historical trade practices, have evolved into complex systems that allow capitalists to exploit loopholes and avoid regulations. The book traces the development of these spaces, from the Geneva Freeport to the Dubai International Financial Center, and discusses the implications for global economies and governance. Abrahamian's work reveals how these zones often serve to enrich the already wealthy while leaving less privileged communities behind, raising important questions about equity and fairness in a globalized world.

Quick quotes

    These zones have lately taken on a life of their own, as 'capitalists, forever pursuing profit, regard liminal and offshore jurisdictions as frontiers.

    Abrahamian's work reveals how these zones often serve to enrich the already wealthy while leaving less privileged communities behind.

    The concept behind them — that you could siphon off part of a country and allow it to play by different rules — has spread globally.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2024-10-08
good 4.00

The Hidden Globe by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian explores the hidden world of wealth and power, revealing how the rich and powerful have created a parallel universe of extraterritorial zones that operate autonomously. The book is praised for its expansive scope and engaging storytelling, though some critics note the lack of academic rigor and citations.

The Hidden Globe by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian delves into the intricate world of wealth and power, exposing a parallel universe of extraterritorial zones that operate largely autonomously. The book is a work of journalism, not an academic thesis, and is praised for its engaging storytelling and expansive scope. It covers a wide range of topics, from special economic zones to freeports and offshore detention facilities, providing a captivating account of how the wealthy and powerful manipulate these systems to their advantage. However, some critics point out the lack of academic rigor and citations, which may affect the book's credibility for those seeking a more scientific account. Despite this, the book is seen as a valuable read for those looking to understand the dynamics of wealth and power in the modern world.

Quick quotes

    I liked this book a lot and I think it's worth reading for a number of reasons.

    This is a work of journalism: this really is the story of Abrahamian trying to investigate and puzzle out on a fairly personal level what is going on with some of the social phenomena that she explores in the book.

    I also liked the expansive scope of this book, although I dare say it got a little out of hand because of just how expansive it is.

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